Window for detention hospitals



Sept. 26, 1933.

J. H. WELSH WINDOW FOR DETENTION HOSPITALS 2 SheetS Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS m T m V m.

Filed March 13, 1931 Se t. 26, 1933. J. H. WELSH WINDOW FOR DETENTION HOSPITALS Filed March 13, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BY My; 6

ATTORNEYS a m m M i i WITNESSES I Patented Sept. 26, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT osslca wmnow FOR DETENTION HOSPITALS James H. Welsh, White Plains, N. Y.- I Application March 13, 1931. Serial No. 522,399

(Cl. 1s9 -'z9) V 3Claims.

An object of the invention is to provide a window of particular value in hospitals and sanitariums for mental'and nervous patients and also in general hospitals for patients when in delirium. 5 The window is constructed in such a manner as not to suggest any appearance of detention or restra'nt, the simplicity and operation of the window also serving to give the appearance of freedom.

Another object of the invention isto provide such a window which may be opened and closed by the patient without danger to the patient as the sashes of the window at all times prevent the possible escape of the patient or the fall of the patientfrom the window. The window is also constructed without parts which may be detached by the patient and also without any.

tates the washing of the sashes and assists in.

the replacement of the glass and netting.

Additional objects of the invention will appear in the following specification, in which the preferred form of the invention is described.

In the drawings similar reference characters refer to similar parts in all the views, of which Figure 1 is a sectional elevation illustrating the window,

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to the sectional view illustrated in Figure 2, but with the sash opened,

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse fragmentary sectional view of one of the sashes,

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view on the Figure 9 :s an enlarged sectional view on the line 9-9 of Figure 8. v

By referring to the drawings it will be seen that the window frame, which is preferably of metal, has an upper cavity 10 and a lower cavity 11, the window frame also having lateral cavities 12 in which the sashweights 13 may move. Preferably the window is made with three window sashes, the middle window sash 14 being preferably stationary and the upper window sash 15 and the lower window sash 16 being preferably movable.

By referring to Figure 8 of the drawings, it will be seen that the window sash 14 has side members 17, these side members 1'7 being secured to the portions 18 of the window frame, which divides 7 the central portion of the window frame from the lateral cavities 12. At the back and front of the members 1'7, and spaced therefrom, there are projections 19 which have flanges 20 secured to the portions 18. The outer upper sash 15 has flanges 15 disposed between the member 1'7 and a projection 19, a pin 22 connecting the flanges 15 and a sash chain 23 being secured to thesaid pin 22. The inner lower sash 16 has flanges 16" which are disposed between the member 1'7 and a projection 19, a pin 22 connecting the flanges 16 and a sashchain 23 being secured to the pin 22. Above the last mentioned pin 22 the sash chain 23 is disposed in a channel formed by the enclosing member 21 which prevents the patient from reaching the sash chain.

It will therefore be understood that the flanges 15 on the upper sash will enclose the sash chain connected therewith to the top of the windowframe and that the flanges 16 on the lower sash will enclose the lower portion of the sash chain connected with the lower sash and that the enclosing member 21 will enclose the upper portion of the last mentioned sash chain.

' There are openings 24 in the members 18, pulleys 25 being pivoted at the said openings 24 over which the sash chains 23 extend, the sash chains 23 being secured tothe sashweights 13 in the customary manner.

Each window sash is provided with sash bars 26, the openings between the sash bars 26 being small so that it will not only be impossible for a patient to thrust his head or his body through the openings, but these openings are also rela- I tively small to make certain that the sash bars 26 will give the greatest support to the members which are held between the sash bars.

These sash bars have vertically extending flanges 2'7 and each sash bar also has a horizontally extending flange 28, there beingan aper-,

' between the sash bars, rest against the flanges 2'2,

- moldings 30 may be disposed against the flanges 28, these moldings 30 having apertures 31 which register with the apertures 29, wedges or mem bers 32 being disposed in the registering apertures for retaining the moldings so in position. Preferably the middle sash frame M has a non= shatterable glass 33 secured between its sash bars 26 in the manner described. Preferably the flanges 27 are on the inside of the window sashes and the flanges 28 extend outwardly.

The upper sash 15 has a portion as which is normally disposed in the cavity 10 and a portion 35 which is normally disposed between the upper portion of the sash 1e and the top 36 of the window. The sash 16 has a portion 37 which is normally disposed in the cavity 11 and a portion 38 which is normally disposed between the window sill 39 and the bottom of the sash M. The portion 35 of the sash l5 and the portion 38 ofthe sash 16 are provided with non-shatterable glass 33 between its sash bars 26. The portion 37 of the sash 16 and the portion 34 of the sash 15 have wire netting 40 between its sash bars 27. This wire netting 40 is reinforced at its edges by a casing 41 and there are resilient members 42 between the casing 41 and the flange 27 of the sash bar and the moldings 30. There are also resilient members 42 between the non-shatterable glass 33 and the flanges 27 and the moldings 30. In this manner the non-shatterable glass and I the wire netting may be held secure, so that they will not rattle in their fastenings.

There are members 43 in the hollow projections 19 to limit the movement of the pins 22 so that it will not be possible for the sash 15 to be lowered beyond the positionrindic'ated in Figure 3 and it will not be possible for the lowersash 16 to be raised above the position indicated in Figure 3. It will therefore be understood that when the upper sash is lowered and the lower sash is raised in the manner shown in Figure 3, twothirds of the opening in the window, frame will be opened and that these openings will be covered by the wire netting 40. It will also be seen that the window sashes may be raised or lowered readily and without any suggestion of detention, that the sash bars 26, which are preferably of steel, will prevent any possible escape of the patient, that the non-shatterable glass will prevent the cutting of the patient should the patient attempt to break a window pane, and that the wire netting 40, which will be of heavy material, cannot be forced outwardly inasmuch as the sides thereof are held firmly in the manner which has been described.

Preferably a flexible member 44 extends from the sash 15 for engaging the sash 14 to prevent moisture or insects from entering between the ripeness upwardly from the window sill, one of these flanges being at the front and at the rear of the cavity ll. There are also flanges at which are secured to the window sash 16 for embracing the flanges 45, as illustrated, to prevent moisture or insects from entering the cavity 11 when the window sash 16 is in its lowered position. These flanges also prevent filth from entering the cavity, which is one of the objections which must at all times be kept in mind when caring for patients with mental disturbances. As best illustrated in Figure 1, the bottom at of the cavity 11 is'inclined to a point l8 where it has an outlet is extending out of the building to permit the cavity ii to be cleaned with water or other fluid, the fluid passing from the cavity 11 at its outlet 49, as will be seen by referring to Figures 1 and 2. Preferably the outlet portion of the cavity as is covered by a cap 50 with orifices 5l which will serve to prevent any considerable air from flowing upwardly in the outlet 49 to the cavity 11, while permitting any fluid in the cavity to flow ice out of the building.

What is claimed is: 1. In a window for detention hospitals, a window frame having a window sill and a cavity ids having two flanges spaced apart for disposal at the outer sides of the first mentioned flanges.

2. In a window for detention hospitals, a window frame having a window sill and a cavity therebelow, flanges extending upwardly from the window sill at the front and rear of'the cavity, a window frame having a portion normally disposed in the cavity, and flanges extending downwardly at the front and the rear of the window frame for disposal at the outer sides of the first. mentioned flanges when the said portion of the window frame is disposed in the cavity.

3. In a window for detention hospitals, a window frame having a window sill and a cavity therebelow, flanges extending upwardly from thewindow sill at the front and the rear of the cavity, the bottom of the cavity being inclined and having an outlet, a window sash having a portion normally disposed in the cavity, and flanges extending downwardly at the front and at the rear of 1 the window sash for disposal at, the outer sides of the flrst mentioned flanges when the-said portion of the window sash is disposed in the cavity. 1

JAMES H. WELSH. 

